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If you want to visit a real ranch, you might try looking for Bed & Breakfast lodging. I'm sure that some of those are ranches, and it is also a great way to interact with the people along the way.
I agree Midwest Michael about the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. I lived in Omaha for 6 years and have been many times. The Oklahoma City Zoo is also quite nice if you are anywhere near there on your trip.
http://www.duderanches.com/
This is a link to ranches where you can get a variety of experiences.
St. Louis Missouri Zoo http://www.stlzoo.org/
It is a free zoo, with several paid extra events. It is in the Forest Park area, with several other venues close by.
As seen in the above post -- there are dozens, perhaps hundreds of dude ranches and semi-private inns that are located on ranching properties. I drove past several of such establishments this month. A more likely search terms would be ranching holidays -- a quick search on Google pulled up dozens of such places in 8-9 western states -- this site is the type of result you can find.
In addition, I am from a ranching family with dozens of ranches in Montana and Wyoming. And I might be able to make some inquires for you.
Mark
Hi everybody!
We were first planning a road-trip from west to east USA. But after thinking about it, we rather be about 3 weeks in the west part of USA.
My first question about this trip is about how much we can see. Because i want to go through the national parks, death walley, and my girlfriend mostly wants to go through the coast way. I have made this daily program, and we want to hear if this is possible and after that we have many more questions. We are planning to go there in july 2016.
Day 1.
Traveling day
Day 2.
San Francisco
Day 3.
San Francisco
Day 4.
San Francisco -> Las Vegas..Through Gennem Yosemite, Sierre Nevada, Death Valley
Sleep somewhere between San Francisco and Las vegas.
Day 5.
From? -> Las Vegas..Through Gennem Yosemite, Sierre Nevada, Death Valley
Day 6.
Las Vegas
Day 7.
Las Vegas
Day 8.
Las Vegas to grand Canyon,
Day 9.
Grand Canyon to Los Angels. 7 hours drive
Day 10.
Los Angeles
Day 11.
Los Angeles
Day 12.
Los Angeles
Day 13.
Los Angeles til San Diego 2 hours
Day 14.
San diego
Day 15.
San diego to Santa Barbara
Day 16.
Santa Barbara
Day 17.
1 night somewhere along the coast, highway one.
Day 18.
Monterrey
Day 19.
Day extra somewhere!???
Day 20.
Traveling day
We haven't decided witch roads or something, but i have made a map what i had in mind.. Se attachment.
Maybe we will start in L.A Instead. (Cheaper fligths)
What do you think about this?
Moderator Note: Again, please keep all questions about this trip in the same thread. This is the second time we've had to merge your threads back together.
You really are selling Yosemite short as you will do little but drive through it on route to Vegas, this a true wonder and you have so much time in the city's. The same could be said of the Grand canyon where you have a half a day to see all the various viewpoints and rock formations. Of course it is your choice but I would give up time for these places any day.
On a loop trip it doesn't matter from where you start so going with the cheapest place makes sense and LA usually is the cheapest. You should then reverse the order of your trip so that the Ocea is on your side of the road when heading south.
You should consider heading directly from GC to San Diego [or vice versa if you change direction]rather than go up and down from LA and all it's jammed up traffic.
You don't say from where it is that you are flying in, but wherever, I suggest you could do with a good set of maps, to get a better overview of this area..... and just how large some of those cities are. Traffic can be quite congested even in the suburbs of some of the larger cities.
If good maps are not available locally, I suggest you purchase a Rand McNally road atlas from the RTA store via the link at the bottom of this page. These maps have much more than just roads and towns. You can see where the natural attractions are, the beach attractions, the scenic routes and much much more. Good maps are invaluable while planning a trip. You won't see all that detail within the confines of a little screen. And of course, they are essential when on the road.
I'd agree with Dave's comments above. You can be more economical with your miles by following his suggestions. I too would reverse the trip and spend more time along the beach and in the stunning national parks. Half a day won't do Yosemite or the Grand Canyon justice.
Lifey
Thanks for your replies! We have changed the route a little bit, so we will start and end in L.A.
And to Lifey, i have found the book here in Sweden, so we will order it soon. :-)
So it's like this now.
Day 1.
Traveling day. Arrival Los Angeles
Day 2.
Los Angeles
Shopping
Hollywood
Walk of fame
Day 3.
Los Angeles
Long beach
Universel studios
Day 4.
Los Angeles to Flagstaff/Grand Canyon
Day 5.
Grand Canyon. Late afternoon -> Las Vegas
South Rim
Day 6.
Las vegas
Day 7.
Las vegas
Day 8.
Las Vegas day -> Mod Yosemite through Death Walley
Day 9.
? -> Yosemite National Park
Day 10.
National Yosemite Park -> In the evening to San Francisco 3 hours drive
Yosemite falls
Tunnel View
Glacier Point
Vernal Fall
Yosemite Valley
Day 11.
San Francisco
Golden Gate
Alcatraz
Day 12.
San Francisco
Fishermans wharf
Twin Peaks
Day 13.
Stop langs highway 1
Big sur
Day 14.
Santa Barbara
Day 15.
San Diego
(relax)
Day 16.
San Diego
(Relax)
Day 17.
San Diego
Day 18.
Extra day somewhere
Day 19.
Extra day somewhere
Day 20.
Traveling home Departure from Los Angeles
As you are flying home from LA why not go to San Diego at the start of your trip to save going all the way through LA to get there and then back again. From SD to GC you could break the journey with an overnight stop and perhaps go through Joshua Tree NP. You could use up that other day in the Grand canyon area, perhaps visit Monument valley and enter the canyon via the east entrance of the park.
Bishop is in a good location between Death Valley and Yosemite giving you a bit of time in Death valley. I would consider staying a night near Yosemite and driving to SF the next morning, you might be underestimating how big Yosemite is.
Thank you again for your reply. We were looking for a quite cheap place to stay near Yosemite, can anyone recommend a hotel or a nice town?
It seems like it's expensive to stay in the national park if you don't want to sleep in a tent.
There are hotels in El Portal, Mariposa, Groveland and you would find cheaper accommodation in Oakhurst, but that is further away. Do a search for the Yosemite Bug, if you don't mind 'rustic' lodgings it gets a lot of good reviews.